The significance of the goal wasn’t lost on Daizen Maeda.
Barely a month after his World Cup tears in Qatar the former Yokohama F Marinos forward was racing through the home defence at Ibrox to put his side 1-0 up in the Glasgow derby.
It took less than five minutes for Maeda to find the net, starting 2023 as Celtic’s first scorer just as he had done 12 months earlier on his debut against Hibs.
HAPPY NEW YEAR??? https://t.co/nHtK33cBxp
— ?? ?? Daizen Maeda (@M_daizen_1020) January 2, 2023
Should Michael Nicholson demand publication of conversations between Collum and Beaton?
Yes, we must have clarity and accountability
No, lets give VAR time to get over teething troubles
Following on from his wonder goal away to Hibs in midweek the forward can be well pleased with how he is entering the new year, backed up by a manager that has complete faith in his ability.
There were certain games last year where it looked like Maeda might be one of those players that requires too many opportunities to convert one into a goal.
Yesterday’s run and finish at Ibrox suggests otherwise. James Tavernier and Connor Goldson were skipped past, when Allan McGregor approached Maeda calmly slotted his shot beyond the goalkeeper.
In the second half with an out of position Josip Juranovic struggling Maeda dropped back to provide his team-mate with a degree of support as the game threatened to get away from Celtic.
One year on it looks like Celtic fans are about to see the real Maeda with goals to supplement the energy and team play.
